my favorite christmas stories

by @according2kelly on December 8, 2011

one of my favorite christmas traditions is snuggling up with the kids, under the christmas blanket, with a fire roaring in the background, drinking hot chocolate floats & reading a few of my favorite christmas stories.

in preparation for many such fun-filled evenings i’ve been busy pulling together a list of my all-time favorite christmas reads & i thought i’d share.

maybe you’ll find a story or two that will become a new family favorite, or perhaps you’ll re-discover one you had forgotten about.

here’s a few books & stories i’m looking forward to sharing with my family this year. if i’ve missed any of your favorites, please share! i’m always on the lookout for something new.

my favorite christmas stories

* the tale of the three trees
* the polar express
* teach the children the true meaning of christmas
* how the grinch stole christmas
* why christmas trees aren’t perfect
* the night before christmas
* olive, the other reindeer
* the christmas orange
* the max lucado christmas collection
* christmas nails
* a special place for santa
* m&m christmas poem
* the christmas miracle of jonathan toomey
* the white envelope
* the giving tree
* santa’s prayer

Tell International Delight what your favorite holiday tradition is for a chance to win a $200 Target gift card from BlogFrog.

Add some cheer to your coffee or baking this season with International Delight’s holiday flavors. Enjoy the taste of Peppermint Mocha, Pumpkin Pie Spice, White Chocolate Raspberry, Vanilla Spiced Rum or Gingerbread Latte and stir up a moment of sweet inspiration.

TellTeTeTell International Delight what your favorite holiday treat is for a chance to win a $200 Walmart Gift Card.
Capture the flavors of the holiday’s in every cup of coffee with International Delight creamers. Available in a variety of flavors, such as Cinnabon, Almond Joy and Pumpkin Spice, International Delight can make everyday feel like a holiday.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the International Delight Brand.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

{almost} wordless wednesday: the merriest place on earth

by @according2kelly on December 7, 2011

sleeping-beautys-holiday-castle

it's_a_small_world_holiday

really & truly, there is nothing more magical than disneyland during the holidays. decorations galore, tasty holiday-inspired treats (rumor has it the holiday gingerbread beignets at the cafe orleans are AMAZING), literally thousands of sparkling lights, santa & his reindeer – live & in person, fireworks &  the always-anticipated snowfall… it definitely is the most wonderful time of the year.

{ 5 comments }

countdown to christmas

by @according2kelly on December 6, 2011

countdown-to-christmas

the sun is shining, the sky is blue & i’m pretty sure a white christmas isn’t exactly in my future. but this i know for sure – it’s beginning to look a lot like christmas, especially at our house. stockings are being hung, gingerbread baked, and the countdown to christmas has already begun.

so how do you countdown? add a new ornament to the tree each day? celebrate with a small gift or special treat? read a different christmas book each night? a couple of years ago we started a new family tradition – an “activity based” advent calendar.

sometimes our “activities” are big outings & sometimes they are just little things, but we try to do a little special something, every single day… spreading christmas cheer throughout the entire month.

this year’s list involves all of our favorite things… watching our favorite christmas movies, decorating gingerbread houses, writing letters to santa, reading some our favorite christmas stories, making hot chocolate floats, picnic dinners by the fire, the “white envelope” tradition, ding dong ditching christmas treats, the annual boat parade of lights, christmas light tours & of course a trip or to disneyland.

here’s to a happy holiday season! it’s definitely one of the happiest times of the year!

{ 6 comments }

spreading christmas cheer

by @according2kelly on November 28, 2011

with thanksgiving over & all of it’s leftovers stored safely in my tummy, i’m finally allowing myself to get excited for christmas.

christmas cheer is in full swing at our house… the holiday tunes are blaring, gingerbread is in the oven & it’s time to decorate the house. & while i love pulling out the stockings & unwrapping the nativity scene, i have to admit my absolutely favorite holiday decorations are our traditional photograph ornaments.

the annual photograph ornament is something my mom did for me as every year as a child (& i still like to search her tree for all of my ornaments), & now my kids love finding their ornaments & seeing how they’ve changed over the year.

christmas just isn’t christmas without these special ornaments.

Now I’d love to know, how do you spread real cheer with your holiday decorating? Please reply below and unwrap coupons and deals from Searsby seeking inspiration in the Cheer Tree. For all your holiday decorating needs and solutions, don’t forget to visit Sears and discover real deals, real cheer!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sears. The opinions and text are all mine.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

cook like martha

by @according2kelly on November 22, 2011

when i grow up, i want to cook like martha. so when i heard she was coming to town for a cooking demo highlighting recipes from her new cookbook martha’s entertaining: a year of celebrations, i knew i had to be in the audience.  & luckily she did not disappoint…

cook-like-martha
her cookbook is beautiful. it’s 432 page of pure martha stewart awesome-ness. breathtaking photography, mouthwatering recipes – it’s definitely a cookbook i’m proud to display in my kitchen.

during the actual cooking demo & book signing, martha was full of sass & personality (i loved the leather leggings & stilettos she rocked that evening). & the seafood stew, glazed carrots, perfect white rice, & pear crostata she made for us to taste was absolutely delicious. & she whipped up the entire meal (with the help of her lovely assistant) in less than 30 minutes. so, it’s the perfect winter meal…

cook-like-martha-seafood-stew

cook like martha: seafood stew

ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, and thinly sliced, plus fronds for garnish
1 large tomato, cut into large dice
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 ounces skinless striped bass or red snapper fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, or diver scallops, or a combination

Crusty bread, for serving

directions

  1. in a medium dutch oven or saucepan, combine oil and garlic; cook over medium-high until garlic is fragrant, 1 minute. add fennel and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. add tomato, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until tomato is breaking down, about 3 minutes.
  2. stir in broth and bring stew to a gentle boil. reduce to a simmer.
  3. gently fold in seafood. return to a bare simmer and cook until seafood is opaque throughout, about 3 minutes. serve stew topped with fennel fronds and a drizzle of oil, with bread alongside.

cook like martha: glazed carrots

ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 pounds baby carrots, trimmed
1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice (from 4-5 oranges)
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

directions

  1. melt butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. add carrots, orange juice and thyme; cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender, about 5 minutes.
  2. season with salt and pepper. serve warm.

cook like martha: perfect white rice

ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice
1/2 teaspoon salt

directions

  1. bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
  2. stir in rice and salt and return to a boil over medium high heat.
  3. reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid, 16-18 minutes (check only toward the end of cooking time).
  4. the rice should be studded with craters, or steam holes, when it is ready. remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 10 minutes. fluff wit fork and serve.

cook like martha pear crostata

cook like martha: pear crostata & tart dough

tart ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup fine yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon ice water, plus more if needed

tart directions

  1. in a food processor, pulse flour, salt, and sugar several times to combine. add butter. pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with just a few pea-size pieces remaining.
  2. sprinkle with 2 tablespoons ice water. pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed with fingers (if needed, add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time). do not overprocess.
  3. turn dough out onto a work surface; form dough into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
  4. before baking, unwrap dough; place on a large piece of floured waxed paper. roll dough to a 14-inch round. using paper, lift and wrap dough around rolling pin (discarding paper); carefully unroll over a 9-inch pie plate. Gently fit into bottom and up sides of plate.
  5. trim overhang to 1 inch; fold overhang under itself. pinch between thumb and forefinger to make a uniform edge around the rim. crimp edge; refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

pear crostata ingredients

3 pounds ripe, firm pears (about 10), peeled, cored and sliced 1/2 inch thick
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
all-purpose flour, for dusting
tart dough
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 teaspoon water, for egg wash
1/4 cup sanding sugar

pear crostata directions

  1. toss fruit with granulated sugar and cornstarch in a bowl, and set aside to macerate.
  2. preheat oven to 375 degrees. flour a large (at least 18 inches long) piece of parchment. place dough on parchment. using your knuckles, press edges of dough so it doesn’t crack during rolling. lightly flour top of dough to prevent sticking; roll into an 18-inch round, about 1/4 inch thick. transfer dough (still on parchment) to a large baking sheet.
  3. mound fruit in the center of dough, leaving a 2-inch border all around. fold dough over fruit, pleating it as you go. brush the exposed dough with the egg wash and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
  4. bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling in the center, 45-50 minutes. transfer sheet to a wire rack, and let tart cool completely.

thanks to the fabulous lindsey, the mod chik, for documenting our amazing martha stewart encounter.

{ 2 comments }

chapman 5k

by @according2kelly on November 14, 2011

chapman-5klast year’s chapman 5k was my first 5k – ever. don’t mis-understand me, it wasn’t my very first race ever. (i had already completed a few triathlons, ran a half marathon or two, & finished an entire marathon.) but, it was the first time i had raced a 5k.

& after this year’s race, i can now proudly say that i have completed two 5k’s.  although, i have to admit – i’ve decided that 5K’s really aren’t my “thing.”

honestly, running a 5k is probably the hardest race, i’ve ever experienced. i know, i know – it sounds totally silly. how could a 5k (3.1 miles) be harder than a half marathon or even a full marathon?! the reason is simple – because running a 5k is damn hard.

hit-the-mark-fitness

when running a 5k there’s no time to ease into the race slowly; there’s no time to really warm up; there’s no time to set a pace.

when running a 5k, if you don’t feel like dying the entire time, you obviously aren’t running fast enough.

when running a 5k, it’s a full-on-out-sprint for 3.1 miles.

unlike most other races, you have accept the fact that feeling totally & completely out-of-breath by the 3/4 mile mark is totally normal. that middle mile is literally hell, because you’re struggling by this point & you’re not even half way done. & then, in just a matter of minutes, the entire race is over.

while this year’s race found me sick , which caused a mid-race asthma attack, i still managed to shave over 3 minutes off of last year’s time, resulting in a new PR of 21 minutes & 12 seconds.

but even better than a brand new, bright & shiny PR? running the chapman 5k with literally dozens of my sisters in sparkle. that’s right, team sparkle invaded the chapman 5k.

everywhere on the race course  were women in sparkle… there women were ages 6 – 60, wearing sparkle skirts. there were women who made it on the podium, wearing sparkle skirts. & there were women, who had just barely started running, wearing sparkle skirts.

it didn’t matter that most of us didn’t know each other, we were all part of the team.

chapman 5K by the numbers:

* 6th place in my age division
* 18th place overall female
* 110th place overall (men & women)
* 21 min & 12 seconds total 5K time
* 6: 50 pace

 

{ 58 comments }

hot chocolate floats

by @according2kelly on November 9, 2011

hot-chocolate-floatsrich & decadent double fudge hot chocolate, served with just a touch (okay, maybe a double scoop) of ice cream. hot chocolate floats- the ultimate late night anytime snack on a cold winter day.

hot chocolate floats

1 mug of hot chocolate

1/4 cup of international delight creamer of your choice

1 scoop (or 2) of ice cream of your choice

combine hot cocoa, international delight creamer in a mug and stir to blend. top with a scoop (or 2) of ice cream, & serve immediately. my “standard” hot chocolate float is made with french vanilla international delights creamer, and french vanilla ice cream or mint chocolate chip ice cream.

but sometimes, i like to mix it up & live on the wild side…. pumpkin pie spice international delights creamer & pumpkin ice cream, peppermint mocha international delights creamer & peppermint ice cream. the possibilities are truly endless.

the only thing that could make hot chocolate floats even better? a couple of candy cane joe joe’son the side. better wipe my mouth, i’m drooling.

___________________________

 

Tell International Delight what your favorite holiday treat is for a chance to win a $200 Walmart gift card.

Capture the flavors of the holidays in every cup of coffee with International Delight Creamers. Available in a variety of flavors, such as, Pumpkin Pie Spice, Vanilla Spiced Rum and White Chocolate Raspberry. 

TellTeTeTell International Delight what your favorite holiday treat is for a chance to win a $200 Walmart Gift Card.
Capture the flavors of the holiday’s in every cup of coffee with International Delight creamers. Available in a variety of flavors, such as Cinnabon, Almond Joy and Pumpkin Spice, International Delight can make everyday feel like a holiday.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight.  The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the International Delight Brand. 

{ 25 comments }

survival emergency kit {the first 3 minutes}

by @according2kelly on November 8, 2011

do you have an survival emergency kit? are you ready an emergency? i know i’m not, & i’m probably not alone. who knows when disaster could strike?! & i for one want to be prepared. you know what they say “better safe than sorry.”

survival-emergency-kit-the-first-3-minutes

locally, here in orange county, families are gathering supplies & necessities needed for what we are calling “the power of 3.” basically it’s an emergency preparedness plan that focuses on the first 3 minutes, the first 3 hours, the first 3 days, the first 3 months, and even the first year after a disaster.

i love the power of 3 plan – it’s a baby steps approach to emergency preparedness. perfect for someone like me!

so, if you aren’t fully prepared for an emergency, i encourage you gather your own supplies, & together we can become “ready.”

survival emergency kit {the first 3 minutes}

one drawstring backpack or plastic drawstring bag, containing:

* one pair of sturdy shoes
* one flashlight
* one pair of leather work gloves
* one whistle
* lightweight clothes

prepare one bag for each member of your family, and attach it to each bed in the house (or somewhere else that is easily accessible & unlikely to be moved).

_______________________________

see… what did i tell you? pretty painless eh? you probably have most of these supplies already laying around your house. all you had to do, was gather them all together, so when an emergency strikes, you don’t have to go searching for them. now, when disaster strikes, you’ll be prepared for those first 3 minutes. up next? survival emergency kit {the first 3 hours}.

{ 13 comments }

the never ending battle

by @according2kelly on November 3, 2011

this halloween the boys proved once again that the battle between good & evil, really is an eternal struggle.

{ 1 comment }

rapunzel, rapunzel let down your hair

by @according2kelly on November 3, 2011

diy-tangled-rapunzel-costume-for-kidsjust weeks before halloween, little miss charlie finally discovered princesses or “princey’s” as she calls them. (with two brothers & a house full of hot wheels – i’m not at all surprised it didn’t happen earlier.)

seeing that “punzy”(otherwise known as rapunzel) is her new-found best friend, it seemed like the perfect halloween costume. although, after dressing like “punzy,” charlie is now having a bit of an identity crisis.

she prefers to wear her purple rapunzel dress at all times, refuses to wear shoes & will only let me brush her hair if i sing…

flower, gleam and glow
let your power shine
make the clock reverse
bring back what once was mine

heal what has been hurt
change the fates’ design
save what has been lost
bring back what once was mine

wonder if she’ll start singing “i could go running/ and racing/ and dancing/ and chasing/ and leaping/ and bounding/ hair flying/ heart pounding/ and splashing/ and reeling/ and finally feeling/ now’s when my life begins!” next?!

{ 13 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →